US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Afrikaner farmers who feel unsafe in South Africa will be given a “rapid pathway to citizenship” in the United States.
Donald Trump wants Afrikaner families to migrate to the US
His statement, made via his social media platform, claimed that South Africa was “confiscating their LAND and FARMS” and that conditions for farmers had worsened.
Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over land reform in South Africa, particularly the Expropriation Act, which allows for land expropriation under specific conditions with nil compensation.
The South African government has repeatedly stated that land reform will be carried out lawfully and that Trump’s claims misrepresent the situation.
Despite this, the former president confirmed that “any farmer” fleeing South Africa “for reasons of safety” could apply for US citizenship instead of seeking refugee status. The decision has already led to the suspension of certain US financial aid to South Africa.
What the South African government said about Trump’s latest claims
In response to Trump’s statement, the South African government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations with the US, stating that engagements should be based on “mutual respect.”
Officials dismissed Trump’s claims, arguing that his statements misrepresent the country’s legal framework on land ownership.
A government spokesperson also noted that “no formal diplomatic communication” had been received from Washington regarding this new immigration policy, per BBC News.
However, concerns remain about the potential impact of Trump’s remarks on trade and investment between the two nations.
South Africa’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a key trade agreement with the US, has also come under scrutiny from some American lawmakers who align with Trump’s position on land reform.
Is AfriForum behind this shift in US-SA bilateral relations?
Trump’s statement follows a recent visit by AfriForum, a South African civil rights group advocating for Afrikaner interests, to Washington, DC. The organisation has been lobbying US officials to intervene in what they describe as “the systematic marginalisation” of Afrikaners in South Africa
AfriForum argues that policies such as the Expropriation Act and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA), which they claim erode Afrikaans-language education, amount to human rights violations. The group maintains that farm murders and “anti-Afrikaner rhetoric” remain significant threats to their community.
Their lobbying efforts have led to increased scrutiny of South Africa’s policies by certain US lawmakers.
However, critics argue that AfriForum is selectively portraying extreme cases to gain political leverage.
Some South African government officials have also accused the group of undermining domestic processes by seeking foreign intervention.
While Trump’s support for South African farmers may resonate with certain factions, it remains unclear whether his proposal will translate into formal US immigration policy.
For now, the South African government continues to insist that land reform will be handled through constitutional and legal processes without infringing on property rights.
